Step-up mechanism



Oct. 8, 1940.

c. T. BREITENSTEIN ,935

STEP-UP MECHANISI Filed June 7, 1938 I29 I 771/6 rCfzankflfflrez'iengiain 6i 5;; flwufiw Patented Oct. 8, 1940 PATENTOFFICE STEP-UP MECHANISM Charles T. Breitenstein, Chicago, 111.,assignor to Raymond T. 'Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 7, 1938, Serial No. 212,310

7 Claims.

step manner for various uses in mechanical organizations.

In the past, an electromagnet has been used to move a pivoted armature,the latter being con-.

nected through linkage to swing a pivotally mounted pawl, the latterengaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel to turn same intermittently.Such mechanism worked very well, but is relatively complicated andcostly since it involves quite a few parts. It is desirable to simplifythis mechanism to lessen the cost thereof materially, and withoutjeopardizing the eflicient operation thereof for the intended purposes.

Accordingly, the principal object of the invention is to provide animproved step-up mechanism.

Another object is to provide a much simplified form of step-up mechanismin which the armature of the electromagnet is disposed directly toengage the teeth of the ratchet wheel without the interposition of anyintermediary parts or mechanism.

Another object is to provide an electromagnet having an armature whichis both pivotally and slidably associated therewith and positioneddirectly to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel to operate same.

Other important objects will become apparent to those skilled in thisart as the disclosure is more fully made.

Briefly, these important objects are attained by providing anelectromagnet carried by a bracket, the latter pivotally and slidablycarrying an armature plate which is spring pulled to hold the armatureaway from the electromagnet core when the electromagnet is deenergized.The plate is extended through a portion of the bracket so that its freeend is in a position directly to engage the teeth of a proximatelypositioned ratchet wheel, whereby to operate the latter, means beingprovided to limit the stroke of the armature plate and keep it in properoperative position in relation to the bracket, electromagnet and ratchetwheel. So much will suflice in presenting a general understanding of theimproved step-up mechanism, a practicable form of which is illustratedin the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a general side elevational view of the complete step-upmechanism assembly;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the electromagnet unit per se;

Figure 3 is an opposite end elevational view of the electromagnet unit;and,

Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof.

The step-upmechanism comprises a suitable support in which carries ahorizontal shaft II on which is rotatably mounted a ratchet wheel l2.The improved step-up mechanism is designed to operate or step up,intermittently, this ratchet wheel, one step or tooth at a time.

Accordingly, the support ill. or some other support, carries a bracketl3 proximately to the ratchet wheel. On the bracket I3 is a vertical endplate It and an opposite higher end plate l5, both in this instancedisposed vertically. The bracket i3 is U-shaped and carries anelectromagnet i6 having an upright core l1. The wall I is provided witha horizontal slot I8 and in this slot is slidably and pivotally carrieda flat armature plate 19 disposed over the core I! as shown in Figure 1.

The end of the plate I! adjacent the slot i8 and on the back sidethereof is formed with an angularly bent, retainer end 20 and on theopposite side of the slot are stop shoulders 2! provided by narrowingthe end in the form of a tongue 22. The plate I9 is formed on its topsurface with a tang 23 to which is secured one end of a pull spring 24,the other end of which is secured to an opening 25 formed in the topedge of the plate l5, so that said spring creates a force normallytending to pull the armature plate l9 upwardly as in the full lineposition appearing in Figure 1, when the electromagnet is deenergized.

The opposite end of the plate l9, from its pivot end, is formed as atongue extension 26, which protrudes through a large rectangular opening21 formed in the end wall l5, said tongue being flat and positioneddirectly to engage the teeth of the proximately positioned ratchet wheelI 2. The upper and lower edges of the opening 21 act as limit stops tolimit the up and down movement of the plate l9 as the tongue 26 hitssaid edges in an obvious manner. Further the structure of the plate IS!in relation to the bracket end walls is such that the plate I! willalways maintain a proper position in relation to the bracket,electromagnet, and ratchet wheel. This is important since there is nofixed axis pivot for the armature plate IS on the bracket l3 as inconventional constructions. This completes the details of constructionand the operation will next be described.

The electromagnet ii, of course, is disposed in an electric circuit witha source of energy and every time the circuit is closed and theelectromagnet is energized, the core 11 attracts and pulls the armatureplate l9 downwardly, the plate pivoting in the slot l8 in the end wallI. As the plate l9 thus swings downwardly the extended end 26 thereofengages a tooth on the wheel l2 to turn same one step, said plateshifting or sliding bodily endwise in the slot [8 and walls [4 and i5 sothat the armature plate can readily accommodate itself to the toothformations on the wheel 12. The end 20, shoulders 2| and opening 21 allcooperate to limit both endwise and pivotal movement of the plate I9 andthe spring 24 acts when the magnet is is deenergized to restore theplate l9 to its normal position of rest shown in full lines in Figure 1.

It will now be seen that a simplified step-up mechanism has beenprovided for the purposes stated in accordance with the objectsheretofore recited for the invention.

It is the intention to cover all changes and modifications notmaterially departing from the spirit and scope of the invention ashereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a step-up mechanism comprising a U- shaped bracket, the bightcarrying an electromagnet and the legs carrying an armature platetherefor, said legs having openings for carrying opposite ends of theplate in a manner enabling the plate to have limited pivotal and endwisemovement in the legs, one end of the plate being extended, and a ratchetwheel turnably carried adjacent the bracket and the extended end havingdirect engagement with the teeth of said ratchet wheel.

2. In a step-up mechanism, a support, a ratchet wheel turnably carriedon the support, an electromagnetic device carried on the supportadjacent the wheel, an armature plate member for the device having oneend pivotally and slidably mounted while its other end extends towardthe periphery of the ratchet wheel, said latter end being positioneddirectly to engage the teeth of the wheel and operate same, and a springindependent of the pivotal mounting of the plate member to hold the samedisengaged from the ratchet teeth when the device is dedihergizd.

3. In a step-up mechanism, a support, a ratchet wheel turnably carriedon the support, an electromagnetic device carried on the support adjaccnt the wheel. an armature comprising a rigid integral plate member[or the device which member has one end positioned directly to engagethe teeth of the wheel and operate same, means for pivotally andslidably supporting the opposite end of the member to associate theplate member with the device, and a spring connected to the plate memberto hold the plate member away from the device when the latter isdeenergized, said spring being independent of the pivotal and slidablesupport mentioned.

4. In a step-up mechanism, a support, a bracket having spaced end wallsand mounted on the support, an electromagnet carried by the bracket, anarmature plate for the electromagnet having an end slidably andpivotally carried in a slot formed in one end wall, the opposite end ofthe plate being extended to pass through a slot formed in the otherwall, and a ratchet wheel turnably carried on the support adjacent thebracket whereby the extended end of the plate may directly engage theteeth of the ratchet wheel to operate same when the electromagnet isenergized.

5. In a step-up mechanism comprising a support, a bracket having spacedend walls carried on the support, an electromagnet carried by thebracket, an armature plate for the electromagnet, said plate carried inthe walls of the bracket for pivotal and bodily endwise movement andhaving an end extended through an opening formed in one wall, and aratchet wheel turnably mounted on the support and directly engageable bythe extended end to be operated thereby.

6. In a step-up mechanism comprising a support and a bracket carriedthereby having spaced end walls, an electromagnet carried by thebracket, an armature plate for the electromagnet, said plate carried inthe walls of the bracket for pivotal and bodily endwise movement andhaving an end extended through an opening formed in one wall, a ratchetwheel turnably carried on the support in a position to be directlyengaged and operated by said extended end, and means for limiting boththe pivotal and endwise movements of the plate.

'7. A step-up mechanism comprising a support, a ratchet wheel turnablycarried thereby, an electromagnetic device also carried on said supportand having an armature plate with one end directly engaging the teeth ofthe wheel to turn same, means to support the armature plate at its otherend for both rotational and translational movements, means positively tocontrol the range of translational movement, and a spring independent ofthe said armature supporting means and acting on the plate to hold samefree of the wheel when the device is deenergized.

CHARLES T. BREITENSTEIN.

